Hasta La Gadget!

Onkyo Japan has introduced its first Android HDMI stick, the NT-A1. Powered by the Google Android 2.3 operating system, the gadget has a powerful 1Ghz ARM A9 Cortex single core processor, a 5123MB of RAM, a 4GB of storage space, a microSD slot for storage expansion, USB 2.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity. Each purchase comes equipped with a remote controller. Folks in Japan are able to buy the Onkyo NT-A1 Android HDMI stick for 9,980 Yen ($127). Onkyo also offers an optional dual mode remote and wireless keyboard (KR-A1) for 7,980 Yen ($100). [Akihabara]

For those of you looking to get your Nexus Q device in after pre-ordering it inside the last few weeks, you’re in luck – everyone else will have to wait indefinitely. We’re getting messages from Nexus Q pre-order users from all over the USA saying that they’ve got a message from Google with the word FREE on it. Google appears to have decided that they’re not quite ready to release this product out into the world yet in its final form.

Though it’s been a wild ride already, so to speak, feedback to Google on the abilities of the Nexus Q do not appear to have been favorable enough to continue with the device as it stands today. And Google, being the undeniably rich and transformable company that it is today, has decided to take a rather unique set of moves in response. Have a peek at the message being sent out to those who pre-ordered the device prior to its release:

“We have an important update about your Nexus Q pre-order.

When we announced Nexus Q at Google I/O, we gave away devices to attendees for an early preview. The industrial design and hardware were met with great enthusiasm. We also heard initial feedback from users that they want Nexus Q to do even more than it does today. In response, we have decided to postpone the consumer launch of Nexus Q while we work on making it even better.

To thank you for your early interest, we’d like to extend the Nexus Q preview to our pre-order customers and send you a free device. If you had other items in your order, your credit card will be charged for those items only.

Your Nexus Q will be on its way soon and you will receive a notification and tracking number from Google Play when it ships.

The Nexus Q Team”

We’re expecting that this means that not only will the Nexus Q be coming back in the future as a cheaper device, it’ll be back with more abilities as well. Have a peek at our Nexus Q full review to see what this device, now called a “preview device”, can do. Also note that the Nexus Q and all related accessories have been removed from the Google Play store today.

Check out the column called Nexus Q: Google’s big I/O Mistake as well while you’re at it.

Nexus Q pre-orders sent out free while final product halted is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

ASUS continues to update its VG monitor series, and this time it’s got something a little more impressive than an integrated IR transmitter. According to FlatpanelsHD, the VG278HE has knocked through the 120Hz barrier that most monitors come up against. The 27-incher can be configured to a buttery smooth 144Hz for 2D and 3D gaming, while inputs include HDMI, dual-link DVI and VGA. The monitor also supports NVIDIA’s 3D Vision 2 — but you’ll have to buy the rest of the parts separately. We’ve reached out to ASUS about pricing and availability, but until we hear more, you’ll just have to imagine those breezy refresh rates. Update: ASUS told us we can expect to see the display hit shelves sometime in Q4, but noted that pricing has not been finalized.

Filed under: Displays

ASUS breaks through 120Hz refresh rate with VG278HE gamer monitor… refresh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIA is back with its latest product in the form of the VAB-800 Pico-ITX board. Measuring 10 cm x 7.2 cm, the VIA VAB-800 is actually the first VIA Pico-ITX board to feature an embedded ARM processor. The VIA VAB-800 features a choice of an 800MHz or a 1GHz Freescale ARM Cortex-A8 processor, two integrated GPUs for independent dual display, 3D/2D graphics acceleration to provide full HD playback support for resolutions up to 1080p, two USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet, VGA and mini HDMI. Sadly, there is no info on pricing so far. [VIA]

We’re rather big fans of the Nexus 7 here at Engadget HQ — it’s just hard not to like a $200 tablet with a Tegra 3 SoC and 7-inch glass-bonded IPS display running pure Jelly Bean. Of the few missing features, there’s one we’re bemoaning more than the lack of rear camera, and that’s the absence of any kind of HDMI or MHL video output. So far, watching movies with the Nexus 7’s been relegated to using a Nexus Q and streaming content from Google Play or YouTube.

Enter Wi-Fi Media, an app available for free on Google Play that lets most Android devices like the Nexus 7 play movies, music and stills on any screen via any Cavium PureVu-compatible streamer, such as HTC’s $90 Media Link HD. We tested Wi-Fi Media with our Nexus 7 and Media Link HD and found it to work pretty much as advertised except for some caveats. First the app doesn’t mirror your screen — you’re limited to playing content stored on the tablet or on the network via DLNA, which means no YouTube, Netflix or games. Second, the app doesn’t handle some common file types — like AVI, for example.

While it supports watching movies, listening to music and looking at pictures, keep in mind that Wi-Fi Media is not a particularly polished app. In addition to playing local and remote DLNA content, you’re able to login to Facebook and Picasa and stream images directly from these accounts, but that’s pretty much it in terms of functionality. There’s also no way to configure the Media Link HD, so you’ll need a sanctioned HTC handset to setup the multimedia streamer before using it with a Nexus 7. Want to know more? Peek at our screenshot gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video.

Update: Since there’s some confusion in the comments, we’d like to clarify that the Media Link HD is not a DLNA device. It normally only works with select HTC phones like the One X, One S and EVO 4G LTE. WiFi-Media’s primary purpose is to connect with a Media Link HD — the app also just happens to support DLNA.

[Thanks, Matt]

Continue reading Wi-Fi Media lets your Nexus 7 play movies on any screen via HTC’s Media Link HD (hands-on video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablet PCs, Software

Wi-Fi Media lets your Nexus 7 play movies on any screen via HTC’s Media Link HD (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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